Posts Tagged ‘christianity’

3 types of strength (Broken bone illustration)

August 18, 2014

We have 3 types of spiritual strength to indicate 3 stages of our spiritual life

Spirit life = relationship with God
1) We have no strength (broken bone)
  • It’s like a broken bone or snapped tendon
  • totally unable to control/move any body part after the break
  • no matter how hard you will or try, you just can’t
  • because it is disconnected.
  • all of us were born disconnected from God
  • no matter how hard we try to be good, we just cannot.
  • all of us when we were born with sin.
  • we will always end up doing something bad, misbehave or not following instructions.
  • thank God he can fix us:
2) We have new strength
  • Jesus is like the doctor who put the broken parts back together
  • our relationship with God is now connected, but the re-connection is weak on its own
  • need something to isolate the part so it can heal and not be put at risk of damage again, needs to be plastered.
  • Jesus puts on a cast so the broken parts can heal properly.
  • He gives us the Holy Spirit to wrap around our joint so that it will be protected during the healing
  • the cast is also a security and helps us to be confident that we won’t accidentally knock the injured part.
  • The cast like the Holy Spirit also gives us the ability to function our body part like normal, how it should be.
  • After saved, but still unable to be fully independent without the cast. This new strength from the Holy Spirit helps the injury to start repair but also gives a chance for the injured arm or leg to start being used again.
  • Can start to use fingers to hold, toes to balance.
  • When disconnected we cannot do any good on our own. Now we have help to be good.
  • Paul says when I am weak, He makes me strong.
  • Cast stays on our entire earthly life.
  • Taking the cast apart early before it’s time is like removing the Holy Spirit from our earthly life.
  • We expose ourselves to further injury.
  • The cast is meant to be on until the body part is fully healed (meaning until we leave this earthly life). – The Holy Spirit is like our helper here on Earth, but once we leave the Earth, we don’t need the Holy Spirit’s work of being a “cast” but now we are in full communion and union with Jesus the doctor. 
3) We have little strength
  • After some time, we develop our life with the cast on, we learn how to go about our daily life with it.
  • We carry it wherever we go and start to return to our usual activities.
  • We now have more strength at the injured limb.
  • But you will at some point come across circumstances that you know will be a challenge because of the injury that you now realize that you have little strength.
  • When you see a need, when you sense a call, when you carry a burden for a certain person, you realise you cannot do it all by yourself, you realise you have little strength
  • Therefore you need wisdom, you need a double portion of anointing.
  • Despite your injury and the cast you carry, you summon whatever strength you can, and the Holy Spirit’s work then takes over and does whatever it does best.

( Incidentally Ps David’s sermon talks about this the next day, Eg. Young David vs Goliath, 17 Aug 2014. Could “borrow” some points from there. )

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My response guide to scandals within the Christian community

February 28, 2014


It has been a week (21 Feb 2014) since the announcement of Pastor David Yonggi Cho’s guilty verdict.

I first read the news through a Korean news portal. (http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/625270.html‎). Thousands of comments have since been posted on various sites carrying or reporting on this news. Most of them are harsh and sarcastic.

An article from the Gospel Herald states that two pastors who are close to Pastor David Yonggi Cho have given statements on “the other side of the story”. (http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/50503/20140226/american-pastor-disclose-details-surrounding-dr-david-yonggi-chos-indictment.htm). More comments on this article have been posted, the majority in the same tone of condemnation.

While the authors of most of these comments are unknown to me, I know a handful of them personally because of the Facebook profiles that are linked to their comments. These are from Christians, believers, pastors, whom I personally know… and these are appalling responses from the Christian community.

My post today is not to say whether the accused is right or wrong, or what “things should have been”. I would like to address the issue of how believers respond in the light of such news, especially on the Internet.

Some Points:

  1. Let non-believers say what they want to say. In all my dealings with non-believers who are out to draw blood, it’s best to not try to explain or defend; it causes more harm and confusion. Unless they are asking genuine questions, we respond accordingly, otherwise, refrain and let the Holy Spirit give wisdom on responding.
  2. Refrain from highlighting. Refrain from posting on Facebook, from retweeting, from linking to your blog in a hope to “starting a Christian conversation”. It is ironic that believers post these up on their Facebook walls and then end the conversation by saying, “yeah, this is not the place to discuss church matters”, and then continue to leave the post there, when they started the conversation in the first place. If for whatever reason you must post it, please disable the comments.
  3. Any believer can fall, whether the “big fry” or the “small”. God is no respecter of status or wealth, and I should add, neither is the devil. So who’s next on Satan’s list? If you’re implying some “mega-church” pastor, think again, it could very well be the questioner themselves.
  4. Issues which involve the court and the law; remember that many courts around the world are not interested in the truth. I think many will agree with me on this. Many legal systems are only interested with justice being served. Prosecutors and police just want somebody charge. As the worldwide audience, don’t expect to learn the truth from court proceedings.
  5. I will probably draw some a lot of flak for saying this, ah but I’ve disabled comments as advised above… Genius! Don’t expect to learn the truth from the media as well. It is naive to think that the media is interested in the truth too. The “other side of the story” or the “minority opinion” may not be true either. Fairness and transparency are mere mantras. Many media editors will skew stories, many reporters will highlight their opinion only. “Having an angle” is something we learn in Journalism 101. It is a gift and skill which landed them their jobs in the first place.
  6. Respect the law of the land. It’s interesting that Christian Malaysians affirm the Korean court in sentencing judgement on a preacher, but argue till the cows come home about not being able to use the word “Allah” in Christian publications. Every country has their legal structure, whether it may be old or outdated. What may be permissible in one country may not be in another. Yes, we should stand up for what is right, but when we go through the legal route and let the law of the land take its toll, don’t complain when you realise that the law is not there to glorify God (see point 4).
  7. It is interesting that Christians will “reduce” a mega-preacher to a sinner and yet not give them the benefit of “Jesus died for the mega-preacher-sinner” as well. Rightfully we are all ordinary mortal sinners. His grace extended to us is also extended to them. When we sin, we are entitled to Christ’s grace, forgiveness, healing and restoration, with God and with our fellow brothers and sister. And you know what? So are they who are “mega”. Let us give them the space to heal and restore.

All Members Suffer

In a video recording of Yoido Full Gospel Church’s service on 23 Feb 2014 (2 days after the verdict), Pastor Cho is seen clapping and worshipping but with a solemn look.

One of the songs the congregation sings is the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross” (in Korean).

During his sermon, at around 1:12:00, he talks about the last two years (of going through the court trial and accusation), being the greatest trial of his ministry.

“I know you have been praying for me and thanks to your prayers I will become a better pastor“.

“Through this suffering, I’ve learned a lesson, which is to not own anything. If God calls me back today, I will be able to go to the Kingdom of God.“


He delivers his sermon like every other Sunday from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, entitled “The Three Ways to Overcome Suffering”.

The sermon can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qS1r44JzTg

I say all this to point out that worship, praise, preaching and fellowship, all continue on as usual in Yoido Full Gospel Church. A ministry or church that was based after a single individual, will not be in this position when their leader has failed. The congregation have found strength to continue worshipping despite of the circumstance.


It is clear that the congregation of Yoido Full Gospel Church is standing by him and suffering along with Pastor Cho through this difficult period. For Christians around the world, especially those who do not wish to identify with denominations but claim to be part of the “Body/Church of Jesus Christ”, I think this is how we should respond when we see a brother or sister go through a trial.

“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:26.

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What-lah

January 13, 2014

I don’t have time to go into the background of this issue. As everyone knows, the “Allah” issue in Malaysia has just caused much misunderstanding and mistrust. If you don’t know, just google it. Many difference incidences have led up to what we see today, many differing and opposing views have been expressed, and all I can say is, what more do you expect when two cousin-religions collide over ownership?

I also don’t have the time to neatly put this into a structured article so I will just give these points as they come:

1) it is not a time to be defensive against people groups

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NLT)

2) it is not a time to choose a side between Christian or Muslim

Instead choose God’s side. The reason I say this is because both sides of the divide are unfortunately laden with political influences and agendas.

3) It is not a time to be surprised

As for the case in Malaysia, we shouldn’t be surprised at this occurrence; since we have been praying for revival, don’t be surprised that it is preceded by persecution. I think the pattern is there, before big revival, big persecution. Because when we claim ground, devil will also try to claim ground.

4) Don’t focus prayer on justice or revenge

Rather pray for wisdom and opportunity.

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” (Matthew 10:16-20, 38-42 NLT)

5) Remember that in trying to defend A WORD, it is not defending THE WORD of God.

I have another whole explanation on why Allah is not a word worth fighting over because there are many more beautiful names of God in the Malay language that should be used (I will take some time to pen it).

Yes, I know some people will tell me that we can’t just let authorities take over that word since certain language groups have been using it even before the Malaysia was birth, etc… I have this explained in another section.

All I can say is that the solution to this issue is not as simple as stating who used the word first. I can assure you that fighting it out using the legal process will always leave some party unsettled. Using religious and historical references is pointless because both sides do not accept each others’ point of view.

Neither am I saying that we should just accept whatever happens.

What I can say for sure is that, trying to claim or defend this word, is a distraction to the work of reaching out and showing the love of Christ.

What I know that every Christian can do is to maintain the Christ-like testimony that Jesus showed of while eating and living amongst the Gentiles of His time and let the love of Christ do its work and win.

What the people of Malaysia are is very much like the time of Jesus, multi-cultural. He can do what Christ did, eat with them, talk with them, love them.

6) Finally, stop posting stuff about it

And hoping to have interesting discussions and comments passed from “friends”. The moment you put something online, you are inviting the whole world to comment and say their peace, whether they be Christians, Muslims, observers, people for peace, people who slander, saboteurs, agent provocateurs, etc… Having discussions with a world-wide audience just isn’t edifying for the Christian community nor for the relationships we have with others. It’s called attention-seeking, not peace-making.

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